The Fermain Academy

Free school · Secondary, ages 13 to 16 · Mixed

Part of YOUTH ENGAGEMENT SCHOOLS TRUST

Beswick Street, Macclesfield, SK11 8JF

01625 611001 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedOutstandingInspected 12 June 2018; confirmed with concerns 2024
Pupils21Room for 90 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 1 in 2019, 3 in 2021, 2 in 2022, 7 in 2023, 17 in 2024, 12 in 2025, 21 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
Free school meals57%of pupils eligible now

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at the inspection that started on 12 June 2018.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationOutstanding
Outcomes for pupilsOutstanding
Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
Leadership and managementOutstanding
SafeguardingEffective

Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 3 July 2024: Ofsted found the school was still Outstanding but had some concerns, so its next inspection will be a full graded one.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

We'll ask you to confirm. One email per change, and you can unsubscribe at any time. Privacy.

Results

No test or exam results have been published for this school yet.

Admissions

Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Cheshire East. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.

Admissions dates and schools in Cheshire East

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolCheshire EastEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 75.0% 18.9%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan 0.0% 4.2%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support 25.0% 10.3%* 13.4%
English as an additional language 0.0% 9.3%* 19.2%
Pupils per teacher 4.3 16.4 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 2.2 11.6 11.8
Teachers who left during the year 5.8% 12.1%* 14.2%*

Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.

Nearby secondary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is The Fermain Academy's Ofsted rating?

The Fermain Academy was rated Outstanding by Ofsted at its inspection in 12 June 2018. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 3 July 2024, Ofsted found the school was still Outstanding but had some concerns, so its next inspection will be a full graded one.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.